The Utility mark was a government scheme, launched in 1941, to regulate clothing manufacture during the war. The aim was to produce civilian clothing to a consistent quality level, at an affordable price, due to the shortages of labour and raw materials, and rising costs. This was the first time government dictated a National dress code, based on austerity measures, it standardised shirt lengths, how much cloth used (for instance turn ups were banned), trimmings etc.

The Utility experiment ended in 1952 with the end of rationing proper. These are a lasting colourful reminder of grand ambitions in the face of adversity.

If you like your shirts to have a collar here is a stashette of matching “tuberized” detatchable collars.

Not uniquely confined to clothing, but also extended to accessory design, household goods, even furniture, the CC41 logo was all encompassing. The graphic ‘cheeses’ design often thought of as Civilian Clothing 41 (actually Controlled Commodity), was designed by Reginald Shipp to be a recognisable sign of quality,and of course it resembles a certain 1980s video game character we all know and love!